Rue How-To: Master the Art of Eyebrow Shaping

We’re going to fill you guys in on a little secret: the trick to having eyes that pop are bold, groomed brows. Trust us – they’ll change the shape of your face. But there’s no need to schlep to the salon (promise!). Here’s how to get those perfect-looking brows right at home:

Step 1: Using a spoolie brush (looks like a mascara brush – see above right), brush your brows up and trim any long, stray hairs above your natural brow line. Then brush your brows down and repeat the same thing. Be very careful to not over trim – fuller brows are much more flattering than sparse ones.

Step 2: Following this tutorial, take an eyebrow pencil and hold it straight up alongside your nose. Place a dot along the inside of your eyebrow aligned with the side of your nose. That should be the beginning of your brow. Then, take the pencil and hold it at an angle, with the end along the side of your nose and the pencil directly through the center of your eye. The area the pencil hits should be the peak of your arch – mark it. Finally, move the pencil from the side of your nose to the outside corner of your eye. Mark that spot – it should be the end of your brow.

Step 3: Tweeze any stray hairs below your eyebrow – never above! In order to get any small stray hairs (relatively) painlessly, hold your tweezers at a slant. Then, using the pointed edge of your tweezers, tweeze any stray hairs between your brows. Be sure to take breaks every few plucks to make sure you aren’t overdoing it. And remember: don’t try to force a new shape. Your natural brow shape is best.

Step 4: This might be the most face-changing step. Fill in your brows using a brow pencil that is a bit lighter than your hair color. Use small, hair-like strokes, and remember that less is more. Smooth out the pencil with the spoolie brush and blend it into your brows, then use a highlighter to illuminate the brow bone right under the arch of your eyebrow.

Step 5: Eyebrow gel is a lifesaver. Use it to groom and set your brows. It may look shiny, but it will dry matte.